Obama taps new EPA, Energy, OMB chiefs

Mar. 4, 2013 - 07:02AM
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President Obama announces March 4 his choice of (from left) MIT scientist Ernest Moniz to head the Energy Department, Gina McCarthy to run the Environmental Protection Agency and Sylvia Mathews Burwell as the next White House budget director. He spoke in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (Mandel Ngan / AFP)

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WASHINGTON — President Obama nominated new economic and environmental officials Monday, saying they will can help grow the economy, increase sources of energy, and reduce the threat of climate change.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Obama said.

Obama tapped Walmart executive and former Office of Management and Budget official Sylvia Mathews Burwell to be his new budget director.

Environmental Protection Agency official Gina McCarthy is being nominated to be EPA administrator, and MIT professor Ernest Moniz has been tapped to be the new energy secretary, Obama announced during a ceremony in the East Room.

Part of their jobs will be to “control our own energy future, while reducing pollution, which contributes to climate change,” Obama said.

In introducing his new budget director, Burwell, Obama cited her biggest immediate challenge: The sequester, $85 billion in automatic budget cuts over the next seven months that began over the weekend; it will affect both domestic and national defense programs, and, Obama said, create pain throughout the economy.

Burwell, who currently runs the Walmart Foundation, served as deputy budget director from 1998 to early 2001 during the Clinton administration.

“She was one of the principal architects of a series of budget plans that produced a budget surplus, proving her ability to navigate the intricacies of the budget process and to work in a bipartisan way to produce results,” said a White House statement.

If confirmed by the Senate, Burwell would replace acting OMB Director Jeffrey Zients, who will retain his job as the administration’s chief performance officer.

McCarthy is currently the EPA’s assistant administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation. If confirmed by the Senate, she would replace EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.

Some conservative groups questioned McCarthy’s appointment, saying she has backed onerous regulations that threaten energy development and economic growth.

“McCarthy’s confirmation would mean higher electricity prices for all Americans and a harsh regulatory environment for energy producers,” said a statement from the Independent Women’s Forum.

Environmental groups applauded the selection of McCarthy. The National Audubon Society called McCarthy “whip-smart, tough-talking, and tenacious and said “she is exactly the kind of leader the country needs to make historic progress on climate change solutions.”

Moniz was under secretary for energy 1997-2001, during the Clinton administration; he also served on Obama’s Science and Technology Advisory Council. Moniz would replace outgoing Energy Secretary Steven Chu.